AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8; Title 53; Title 56, Chapter 7; Title 63 and Title 71, Chapter 5, relative to insulin.
Impact
If enacted, HB1737 would significantly impact the healthcare landscape in Tennessee by enhancing affordability for insulin-dependent patients. It directly impacts health insurance providers, including local and state-managed care programs like TennCare, by enforcing the cap on insulin costs. The bill is projected to improve medication adherence among diabetes patients, which could lead to better health outcomes and potentially lower overall healthcare costs related to diabetes complications.
Summary
House Bill 1737 proposes amendments to several titles in the Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically focusing on insulin pricing and accessibility for individuals diagnosed with diabetes. The core provision of the bill establishes a cap on the out-of-pocket expense for covered prescription insulin drugs, mandating that patients cannot pay more than thirty-five dollars for a thirty-day supply, regardless of the quantity or type of insulin prescribed. This legislative move aims to alleviate the financial burden faced by diabetic patients in accessing necessary medication.
Contention
While the bill has garnered support due to its potential positive effects on diabetic patients, there are notable concerns among stakeholders regarding the economic implications for insulin suppliers and insurance providers. Critics may argue that imposing a pricing cap could affect the availability of insulin or lead to increased costs elsewhere in the healthcare system. Additionally, some might raise issues about the broader implications for market pricing and regulation of pharmaceutical products, fearing that such government intervention could distort the market dynamics.
Prescriptions for testosterone not allowed to be transmitted or reported within the prescription drug monitoring database and removes from the records all existing information concerning prior testosterone prescriptions.
Prescriptions for testosterone not allowed to be transmitted or reported within the prescription drug monitoring database and removes from the records all existing information concerning prior testosterone prescriptions.
Increases the maximum fill for non-opioid, non-narcotic controlled substances found in schedule II, so that a sixty-day (60) supply may be dispensed at any one time.
Increases the maximum fill for non-opioid, non-narcotic controlled substances found in schedule II, so that a ninety-day (90) supply may be dispensed at any one time.